Education
BY ANGELA BONILLA & JONATHAN PERRIELLO
Coppell ISD to consider tax rate election Coppell ISD trustees are moving forward with plans to call a voter-approval tax rate election after reviewing results from an efficiency audit July 22. CISD expects a nearly $10 million budget short- fall in fiscal year 2024-25 without the VATRE. The VATRE would raise the tax rate, resulting in a $147 annual tax increase per household and generating $2.4 million per year for the district, said Chief Financial Officer Diana Sircar. A VATRE election has to occur in November and must be called by Aug. 19. The context In the efficiency audit, CISD data was compared to surrounding district and state averages. CISD was slightly lower than the state and peer district averages for per-student revenue, which does not account for recapture—excess local tax revenue districts repay to the state. The district
DCAD budget adds to LISD funding issues An increase to Denton Central Appraisal District’s fiscal year 2024-25 budget poses more financial burdens on Lewisville ISD as it eyes a $8.4 million shortfall. School districts comprise almost 61% of the appraisal district’s $23.8 million budget, which was approved on June 13. LISD will pay $4.7 million into DCAD in FY 2024-25, a $525,000 increase from previous years, according to DCAD documents. The new DCAD budget is a $3 million increase from FY 2023-24. LISD’s DCAD payments rose by $1.6 mil- lion since FY 2018-19, Superintendent Lori Rapp said, while its general fund balance has reduced by $37 million since FY 2021-22. The county’s growth has caused DCAD to hire more personnel, Chief Appraiser Don Spencer said in a letter to LISD.
Coppell ISD Tax rate (per $100 of a property’s valuation)
$1.5
$1.48
$1
$1.05
$0.5
$0
SOURCE: COPPELL ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
expects $24 million in recapture payments in FY 2024-25, per district documents. What else? District expenses per student exceeded its revenue by $300, and were lower than peer district and state averages. CISD spends almost 81% of its funds on staff compensation, per the audit. “This money will be used for salaries, safety and security, and classrooms,” said Chief Communica- tions Officer Angela Brown.
Texas student STAAR test scores remain consistent
Texas spring 2024 STAAR end-of-course scores
2021
2022
2023
2024
80% 100%
consistent from 2023 to 2024 in algebra I, biology and English I, according to the TEA. However, there was a 2 percentage point decrease, from 71% to 69%, in the percentage of students meeting grade level in U.S. history. In other news Results show a decline in math and science for students in third through eighth grade.
Standardized testing scores for high school students show State of Texas Assessments of Aca- demic Readiness performance largely held steady compared to previous years, according to a June 14 news release from the Texas Education Agency. The details The percentage of students who received an assessment of “meets grade level” remained
Students remained consistent from 2023 to 2024 in Algebra I, Biology and English I.
60% 40% 20%
0
Algebra I Biology English I English II U.S. History
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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LEWISVILLE - COPPELL EDITION
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